Thank you all for responding. It's very emotional for me to hear each of you respond in the way you have. Were you all not brothers and sisters at one time or what the society calls them? At one time im sure each of you enjoyed socializing and even enjoyed making the meetings and possibly enjoyed the fact that you were pleasing Jehovah so its hard for me to fathom how someone can leave something like that behind. Now of course I researched a bit, so I know some of the reasons, but coming from a simple minded witness, me, its hard to see. I'm afraid of losing Jehovah, such as everyone on this board did. I love God. I want to please him. I have sincerely prayed and prayed and prayed to help guide me to what is right. I cannot leave him for I will have felt as though I have betrayed him. I hate this place called earth and just about have a hatred for people. I hate to have worked so hard to be told that what I've learned is wrong and fulls of lies.
I'm still with them, and I will always defend them and Jehovah God as I know it.
But maybe this is the wrong place to do it... please let me know if thats the case.
Anyways, enough of that ... to respond to some of your comments:
(Because I'm at work, the below has been typed off an on in my spare time, so if it appears to be insensitive or rude, that was not the intention. Just typing here and there as I find the time. So my apologies if taken otherwise)
As for your story, you may have had a great upbringing that involved the jdubs. But let me ask you the question? If you were never a witness would it have been so horrible?
Of course not. As a matter of fact, I would assume that life itself would be a bit more enjoyable. But the difference in being a witness and one who is not, is that most people who know nothing about jehovah and his organization live their life day by day, possibly going to church every now and then, then turning 70 or 80 years old, dying and thats it... whereas a witness feels as though (as I have) their life has purpose and that they have found God. If you look at the basic beliefs and doctines (not all), but they are pretty solid. Those who just go to church (again, one who has not known "the truth") just to go, which is practially the majority, dont have that feeling of purpose.
One word of advice, People that are born in the "truth" never have to seek truth for themselves. You have think outside the box until you can determine if you have found truth.
You're right, but have you found the truth? Not the truth about the truths of JW's, but after leaving, have you found the truth about God and his requirements itself?
All I ask is that when the time comes, you allow your children that same choice.
As I begin to learn more about the truth as the days pass, I have learnt that this is very important. I would much rather them know for sure instead of finding out when they are 30, wasting their life away. But hopefully, the truth as they know it will be their foundation.
Not everything the JW's teach is bad. We have even had several threads on the good side of the JW lifestyle. I was glad to have morals growing up. I never did drugs, smoked, and was a virgin when I got married. I appreciate those things. What I didn't appreciate was not being able to hang with my friends at school, not being given the OPTION of college, not being allowed to play sports (practice was sometimes on meeting nights) and so on.
Same thing with me. I never associated with the other kids, no sports, college (but later on I did), etc. I hated it. I hated making friends, then having to explain why I couldn't. Day after day. But wasn't that for the benefit of our good? You cant hold the society at fault for recommendations to help protect. But the society has learned from this and has changed accordingly. Even the WTS has to live and learn.
ARE the JW's really that bad? Well lets see if you joined before 1965 (somewhere in there), it would have been against your religion to get vaccinations. When they changed that in the SMALLEST paragraph ever in 65 would you have left if your child had small pox or polio due to the non vaccination rule that was obviously not God inspired? That is up to you. Transplants were considered cannibalism for years until that changed about 20 years ago. If your child needed a transplant and being a good witness, you didn't allow it and they died, how would you feel when the Organization said it was a conscience matter the next year? Was that one of Gods laws? No. If you had allowed a transplant you would have been disfellowshipped. Do you think they would have called you later when it was suddenly a conscience matter and said our bad, you are reinstated? I personally cannot follow an organization blindly that has been wrong so many times. Whether or not you think that is "BAD" enough to leave is up to you.
I disagree. I wasn't aware of that the vaccinations thing, but noone knows why the organization made those "rules". Agreed? With Jehovah's Witnesses being a fairly young organization, maybe they made those rules/guidlines for they were sure if this violated God's laws. I dont see how that could have benefited them at all by making those rules, so then you would have to conclude that they did it to ensure Gods laws weren't violated... just precautions. Then I would assume that they reevaluted those "rules", changed it because they saw no issues with it. Again, its relatively young. And no, I dont think a religeon can be classified as "bad" just because of this.
Many people who belong to other religions have exactly the same experiences as you. They feel surrounded by love, they had ideal childhoods, they are taught to lead clean, moral lives. Does that mean they have the truth? Or would you feel compelled in your ministry to help them leave all of that because it is actually false religion (according to the Society)? Don't you think that it is important for people to know the whole story about where their belief system originated and what its leaders have said and done in the past? Maybe it wouldn't matter to you, but it matters to some of us.
If this is the case, then wouldn't we not use some of God's faithful servants of old as examples? Most of them had very dishonerable pasts. Or would this only be applied to religeous organizations?
Forgot: YES I AM HAPPY!!! I feel as if a huge rock has been lifted from my chest since nullifying my baptism.
Yes, I have doubts. I admit that. But, I still believe there is a God. A true God. One God. A God with requirements. If JW's are not the true religeon, then, since nullifying your baptism, how have you found happiness... how are you living up to Gods standards and requirements? And is it that, where you have found happiness? Or happiness not having to deal with JW's?
What really matters is what you think. When I read your post it seems you have held back from baptism for some reason. Perhaps it is because you do not believe all of the aspects of the Truth? Most that I know who attend but do not commit, want to be a part of the social structure that you find comfortable for yourself and your family. I can see that, we need structure in our lives. Certainly a family does. The fact that you posted here and have been reading this site shows you wonder what's going on out here in the non JW world. Why would anyone leave so safe a place with so safe a feeling? I'm sure your father's words about Silentlambs has made you aware of the sharks that troll the Kingdom Hall waters. It may not be as safe for your family as you think.
You sound like a caring and attentive parent so its a hurdle you can surmount. If you are truly happy there, why set a half-assed example for your kids? I never understood that. If this is the "Truth" and thier everlasting life is involved, why wouldn't you become more than a bystander?
I have held back baptism for the simple reason that the organization has a strict and tough requirements to follow, and being the person that I am, not very outgoing, it is extremely hard for me. I couldn't have done like everyone else and got baptized early on, which would have been easy, but I guess one of the other reasons is that I wanted to make sure I was ready. And because my attendance was off and on, never felt like I was.
And yes, I do wonder about whats going on out there. I am looking and searching, and even learning about some of the "apparent" falsehoods, but will never take it as it is unless there is hard evidence. And yes, he was the one who has introduced me to many of the false doctrines, but again, I cant take it unless I have hard eveidence. Up to this point, its all heresay (from what my Dad has showed me), which includes some of the things i've read here. But, im sure I'll be bombarded with those facts soon.
I dont understand it myself. Its tough being a witness, really tough. But a bystander by no means. The only thing lacking is the official public dedication.
